Ready to take to the Battlefield, but aren't sure which class is best for you? We break down the strengths and weaknesses of the Assault, Engineer, Support and Recon classes so you can choose the one that best suits your style.

When you start out, choose a class that best suits your playstyle. As your Battlefield skills improve, you can start to diversify and choose roles that best suit your team's needs.

Complete Class Guide

While Battlefield 4 is a team game, it's important that you play to your own strengths - especially when you're starting out. The ideal choice of class is the one that best suits your playstyle. While it is important to have a balanced team with a good mix of offensive and support characters, the reality is, if you can't play a character type particularly well, you're better off choosing the role that best suits you, rather than "playing out of position."

So from a high-level perspective, here's a quick breakdown of class types:

Assault: Ideal for aggressive players who like to get into the thick of the action. If you can aim quick and shoot accurately, this is your class.

Support: If you're happy letting others rush in, while you provide cover fire and backup, the Support class is your choice. If you play it well, expect to receive mondo love from your teammates.

Recon: Are you a happy camper? Love picking people off from afar? Look no further than this class for your thrills and spills.

Okay, now you're a little more up to speed on which class might suit you best, here's a deeper dive into the specifics of each class.

There are plenty of upgrades - but choosing the best one is easy. Whichever one most effectively augments your playstyle is the "best" upgrade.

Assault Class

Assault class is great for beginners, because it's a good all-rounder that'll let you get a feel for different aspects of the game, which will help you decide whether you want to focus on a different role, or stick with this one. Assault rifles are typically excellent at any range, offering great rates of fire and top-notch damage output capabilities. In order to get the most out of this class you'll want to stick close to your squad members and have Defibrillators at the ready.

Class Strengths

Heal/Revive Teammates

Strong Primary Weapons

Class Weaknesses

Low Anti-Vehicle Capability

Starting Loadout

Primary Weapon: AK-12

Sidearm: P226

Grenade: M67 FRAG

Gadget 1: FIRST AID PACK

Gadget 2: M320 HE

Knife: BAYONETTE

Unique Field Upgrades

Combat Medic Field Upgrade (Assault Score: 66,000)

Grenadier Field Upgrade (Assault Score: 133,000)

Notable Unlocks

Defibrillator (Assault Score: 11,000)

Medic Bag (Assault Score: 100,000)

Ideal Game Modes

Domination

Squad Death Match

Team Death Match

That's one way to stop the pesky sniper on the 25th floor...

Engineer Class

Being an Engineer is all about vehicles – whether you're fixing them up so your team can drive into battle, or taking out enemy machines to prevent them from being mobile. This class is most effective on larger maps that feature plenty of vehicles, so they can really take advantage of their strengths. The Engineer class no longer has exclusive rights to carbines, which have now been replaced by PDW weapons. Carbines are still in the game – only now all Battlefield 4 classes can use them. So use your PDW until you can get a carbine, whereupon select that as your primary weapon.

Class Strengths

Destroying Enemy Vehicles

Repairing Friendly Vehicles

Class Weaknesses

Inability to Heal/Revive Teammates

Starting Loadout

Primary Weapon: MX4

Sidearm: P226

Grenade: M67 FRAG

Gadget 1: REPAIR TOOL

Gadget 2: MBT LAW

Knife: BAYONETTE

Unique Field Upgrades

Mechanic Field Upgrade (Engineer Score: 146,000)

Anti-Tank Field Upgrade (Engineer Score: 218,000)

Notable Unlocks

AK 5C (Engineer Score: 36:000)

FGM-172 SRAW (Engineer Score: 250,000)

Ideal Game Modes

Conquest Large/Small

Rush

Obliteration

Those Assault guys love taking all the glory. But us Support folks know that we're the ones who make them look good.

Support Class

The Support class is for players who take pride in doing the little things that help keep the team rolling. The only class that can use the LMG range of weapons, Support soldiers should focus on laying down suppressive fire and dropping Ammo Boxes at every opportunity. Don't use this class for running and gunning – if that's your thing, choose Assault. What a good Support player does is focus on setting up in strategic locations, with plenty of line of site to drop cover fire, and keep the enemy troops pinned. Think Rush defense here.

Class Strengths

Suppressing Fire

Supplying Friendly Soldiers

Class Weaknesses

Close Quarters Combat / Mobility

Starting Loadout

Primary Weapon: U-100 MK5

Sidearm: P226

Grenade: M67 FRAG

Gadget 1: AMMO PACK

Gadget 2: XM25 AIRBURST

Knife: BAYONETTE

Unique Field Upgrades

Indirect Fire Field Upgrade (Support Score: 105,000)

Perimeter Defense Field Upgrade (Support Score: 174,000)

Notable Unlocks

Ammo Box (Support Score: 87,000)

MP-APS (Support Score: 157,000)

Ideal Game Modes

Conquest Large/Small

Rush

Obliteration

Camping from a helicopter would be the best thing ever were it not for those pesky surface-to-air missiles.

Recon Class

A primary complaint about the Recon class in Battlefield 3 was the feeling of being disconnected from the fight. Battlefield 4 solves that problem by making carbines available to any class, as well as the addition of C4. This helps give the class more flexibility, enabling them to concentrate on their core ranged strengths when necessary, but also allowing them to move with the team if needed. Before gearing up your Recon solider, consider what gadgets will best suit the needs of your squad.

Class Strengths

Long Distance Engagements

Laser Designation Capabilities

Class Weaknesses

Close Quarters Combat

Starting Loadout

Primary Weapon: CS-LR4

Sidearm: P226

Grenade: M67 FRAG

Gadget 1: PLO

Gadget 2: C4 EXPLOSIVE

Knife: BAYONETTE

Unique Field Upgrades

Spec Ops Field Upgrade (Recon Score: 96,000)

Sniper Field Upgrade (Recon Score: 144,000)

Notable Unlocks

Motion Sensor (Recon Score: 16:000)

Radio Beacon (Recon Score: 80:000)

Ideal Game Modes

Conquest Large/Small

Rush

Obliteration

Squad Death Match

Team Death Match

This article was compiled with help from Prima Games

You can find many more hints and tips, plus strategy guides and over 65,000 cheat codes, unlocks, achievements, trophies, Easter eggs and secrets at Prima Games.